Laurie Hayes
Title: THE ESTONIAN-LANGUAGE EDUCATION TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION SYSTEM: A PERSPECTIVE OF ADULT IMMIGRANTS
Supervisor: Kateryna Lobanova
Opponent: Dr. Margit Kirs
Defense: 8 June 2026
Abstract: Language education has changed dramatically over the past fifty-plus years since the Common European Framework for Reference (CEFR), and technological advances of the past two decades have accelerated the evolution of education and its tools. Newly developed apps and platforms, and their accompanying educational methodologies, have made acquiring a new language as an adult simpler than ever. However, there is little research on the acquisition of smaller languages for integration purposes, particularly which tools and technologies are most effective for adult learners. This is especially true in the Estonian case, where the historical complexities and modern immigration realities have changed the landscape for Estonian-language education. This research provides an initial attempt at understanding the Estonian-language education Technological Innovation System (ELE-TIS) from the perspective of adult immigrants. Using survey responses, interviews, and Bergek et al.’s 2008 scheme of analysis for assessing the functional dynamics of technological innovation systems, this research outlines the shape of the ELE-TIS from the perspective of adult immigrants seeking integration into Estonian society.
Keywords: Estonian-language education, immigration, technological innovation system, adult education, integration
